I tell you, use your worldly resources to benefit others and make friends for eternity. In this way, your generosity stores up a reward for you in heaven … but if you are unfaithful with your worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven? ... You cannot serve both God and money. (Luke 16: 9-14 NLT)

If you're going to become like Jesus, you need to learn how to be generous.

It’s easy to give your time, energy or money when you have a lot to spare. But the true test of generosity comes when you don’t have a surplus. Do you still give what little you have to help somebody else? If you do, congratulations! You’ve passed God’s test of generosity.

Why does God test your generosity? Because you were made in his image, so if you’re going to become like Jesus, you need to learn how to be generous. If you don’t, you’ll never grow to maturity, and you will never have the blessing of God on your life.What if you’re in a recession and things aren’t going well — you’re out of work or you’re out of money and you feel like you have no more time or energy to give. How can you be generous when you’re stretched thin?

A good example for us is in 2 Corinthians 8. Paul says this about the churches in Macedonia: “Though they have been going through much trouble and hard times, they have mixed their wonderful joy with their deep poverty, and the result has been an overflow of giving to others” (2 Corinthians 8:2 LB).Joy and generosity always go together. An acid test of how much you trust God is the way you handle your money, because it shows what’s important to you.

If you want you to succeed financially you can be generous, help other people, and do good in the world. So here are five principles to help you thrive even in a recession:Obeying God’s vision will bring God’s provision. When you say, “God, I’m going to do what you want me to do regardless of whether I have the money or resources to do it,” God will provide everything you need to get it done.When I do all God tells me to do, he does what I can’t do.Give God whatever you have, however meager it may be, and God will multiply it to do more than you imagined, just like he did with the five loaves and two fish.God gives to generous people. The more generous you are, the more God will give you.

Whenever I have a need, I need to sow a seed. Whatever you need more of, give it away. In order to harvest a crop, you first have to plant the seeds.There is always a delay between sowing and reaping. A harvest is not automatic. It takes time and patience.

]]>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 11:39:03 GMThttp://www.famfc.org/inspiration-corner/-the-great-reversal-the-last-will-be-first The Great Reversal: The Last Will Be First

"And so it is, that many who are first now will be last then; and those who are last now will be first then." (Matthew 20:16 NLT)

One day there will be the great reversal. Some of the people you envy on Earth will be at the back of the line on judgment day!

We've been talking about how the sin of envy keeps you from living out your purpose:

Envy denies your uniqueness: "God, you knit me together in my mother's womb .... Your workmanship is marvelous .... You watched me as I was formed in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born." (Psalm 139:13-15 NLT)

Envy is an insult to God:“Who are you, a mere human being, to criticize God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who made it 'Why have you made me like this?'" (Romans 9:20 NLT)

Envy divides your attention: "No one can serve two masters. For you will hate one and love the other; you will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24 NLT)

Envy distracts you from your purpose: "Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God." (Luke 9:62 LB)

Envy wastes your time and energy: "I've learned why people work so hard to succeed; it is because they envy the things their neighbors have. But this is foolishness, like chasing the wind .... Here is someone who lives alone. He has no child or brother, yet he is always working, never satisfied with what he has. Yet he never asks, 'For whom am I working so hard?' This is useless, too—and a miserable way to live." (Ecclesiastes 4:4-8 TEV)

Envy leads to every other sin:"For wherever there is jealousy (envy) and contention (rivalry and selfish ambition), there will also be confusion (unrest, disharmony, rebellion) and all sorts of evil ..." (James 3:16 AMP)

Pray this today:

"Father, I admit that I've had envy in my life, and I ask you to help me evict it from my heart. Help me to stop comparing myself to others! Help me to start enjoying your goodness to others. Help me realize that you don't have a short supply of grace, that there is plenty to go around. Help me to remember that I already have so much more than I deserve.

“I ask you to forgive me for not being grateful for what I already have. I'm sorry, Lord. When life seems unfair, teach me to trust you, realizing that you have my best interest at heart. Most of all, help me to keep focused on your unique plan for my life. I want to be exactly what you want me to be.

Help me to remember that life is about relationships, not getting things. Help me to serve others in love instead of envying them. Jesus, I pray this in your name."

“Commit your work to the Lord, and then your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 (NLT) God is for your success in life; he created you for a purpose and he wants you to succeed. It is God, your Creator, who will measure your success in life, and no one else. Knowing God is for you will change your whole perspective on life. You’ll stop thinking of God as someone looking down from Heaven, ready to yell “Gotcha!” anytime you mess up. This is extremely good news! It means you don’t need to be afraid of God, because God is for you. Yet some people are so afraid of God that they get nervous just talking about him. Do you know why? They feel guilty, and then they start thinking, “If I get close to God, he’s going to lecture me. He’s going to remind me of all the things I’ve done wrong, and then I’ll feel even worse!” Nothing could be further from the truth of God. Jesus said, “I did not come into the world to condemn it, but to save it”. In effect, Jesus is saying, “I didn’t come to scold you; I came to save you.” If God is for us, who can be against us? ]]>Tue, 28 Feb 2012 13:05:12 GMThttp://www.famfc.org/inspiration-corner/the-time-is-nowThe Time Is Now

A WORD FROM THE LORD TO BUILD UP, ENCOURAGE, AND COMFORT YOU

Now is the time to take command of the situations that you have fallen victim to. Have you forgotten that I have given you authority over all of the powers of darkness arrayed against you? Rise up and forbid the enemy to undermine your faith or to wreak havoc or bring destruction.

Take your position as a warrior and speak to your mountain of trouble. Whatever you prohibit on earth is prohibited in the spirit realm, and whatever you allow on earth is allowed in the spirit. Pull yourself up to the full measure of the faith that I have given you and make your declarations. Proclaim victory by My Spirit, says the Lord.

Matthew 16:19 "And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Remember this:There is nothing that you will face today that the Lord can't bring you through. I'm praying that the peace of God will flood your soul, and send any fears holding you back running, so that the vision the Lord has given you will come to pass.

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose”(Acts 16:25–26, NIV)

TODAY’S WORD Paul and Silas were put in jail for spreading the good news. It wasn’t fair. They were beaten with rods without a trial. It was unjust. As they sat in the prison, bloody, bruised and uncomfortable, they began to sing praises to God. As they were singing praises to God, all of the sudden, there was a great earthquake. The prison doors flung open, the chains fell off, and they walked out as free men. What happened? They praised their way to victory!

Friend, if you’re going to live in victory, you have to know how to praise in your midnight hour — when things seem the darkest, when you’re in pain, disappointed, lonely or experiencing a loss. When you praise Him no matter what, that’s when God can enter your situation. That’s when He can break your chains and set you free!

Remember, a sacrifice of praise is when it costs you something, when you don’t necessarily feel like doing it. Praise Him, not because of how you feel, but because He is worthy! Praise Him in your midnight hour and get ready to embrace the freedom He has planned for you!

A PRAYER FOR TODAYFather God, right now I lift my heart to You. I declare that You are worthy to be praised, and Your worth doesn’t change because of my circumstances. I will bless You today and every day. I will bless You in the midnight hour knowing that You are good, and You have victory and freedom in store for me in Jesus’ name. Amen.— ]]>Mon, 23 Jan 2012 13:59:38 GMThttp://www.famfc.org/inspiration-corner/complete-to-honestyCommit To Complete Honesty “Yes, what joy for those whose record the Lord has cleared of sin, whose lives are lived in complete honesty.” Psalm 32:2, NLTI am enjoying a bottle of “spring” water. Wow, it is so refreshing! It inspires me to conjure up images of water, pristine and pure, produced from springs whose origins are deep within the earth. But before you take a sip, check the small print on the back of the bottle. It states, “Source: Municipal Water Supply, Miami, Florida.” You mean my “spring” water comes from a tap somewhere in Dade County!?! It brings to mind the above verse. Take special note of the last two words. Honesty, it seems, is an all or nothing proposition. Our synthetic society specializes in misleading and misrepresentation. We join in and fudge an expense account, overpromise our product’s potential, promise to deliver on deadlines we can not meet and console ourselves with, “It is okay because I am basically honest.”

The problem is that the Bible clearly demonstrates you can not compartmentalize integrity. If you compromise your commitment to integrity in one area of your life the consequences will contaminate the whole of who you are. Let me provide an example. Remember King David? His most infamous integrity break – adultery (2 Samuel 11). Adultery is a sexual sin, but the fallout of this sin spreads far beyond the sexual arena of David’s life. His sin dramatically affected his family life, his political life, his vocational life, and devastated his spiritual life.

No wonder it is David who penned Psalm 32. He knew far too well the damage done when one’s integrity is incomplete. That is why he encourages us to commit to complete honesty.QUESTION: How can I practice complete honesty today? What are the times and where are the people who pressure me to compromise or compartmentalize the truth? ]]>Sat, 14 Jan 2012 12:19:39 GMThttp://www.famfc.org/inspiration-corner/dont-worry-about-tomorrowA WORD FROM THE LORD TO BUILD UP, ENCOURAGE, AND COMFORT

Are you worried about your future? Those who worry do not know how safe they are with Me, so they take matters into their own hands and remove themselves from My protection to do things their own way because they are motivated by fear and not faith.

Those who put their faith and trust in Me are not worried because they know Me. They know they are safe with Me. I really am your safe haven, says the Lord. Don't worry, and I will count you faithful.

Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 29:25 The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.

Remember this: There is nothing that you will face today that the Lord can't bring you through.